Live Thread: Cavs at Celtics (7:30 tip)
2015-12-15Avery Bradley has been “a nice piece” for going on five years. During that time, as Danny Ainge has hoarded power forwards and point guards, it hasn’t always been clear where Bradley fit into the rebuild. Was Ainge waiting for Bradley’s trade value to ascend to a level that could net more draft picks? Was Bradley the future point guard after the Celtics dealt Rajon Rondo? (That Rondo trade by Dallas was positively Welschian)
Bradley comes into tonight’s contest shooting a career high 43% from 3-point land. He remains a shooting guard in a point guard’s body with a poor assist to turnover ratio, on a team that nevertheless generates a lot of assists. Both Evan Turner and Isaiah Thomas far outpace him in dishing out the dimes. (Even the Celtics bigs, David Lee and Jared Sullinger, have better passing stats). Keep an eye on Bradley as the season progresses. He’s on a very reasonable contract for the “new CBA” that everyone keeps predicting. And with the way he’s playing right now, his value may never be higher.
The Celtics have blown a lot of teams out, and have been blown out a few times. They’re a strange team without a superstar to provide a stable offensive output. As we saw in last year’s playoff – Isaiah Thomas can be a frightening offensive live wire or he can sabotage his team’s offense with bad shots. They’re 4th in SRS (Cavs are currently 7th) because they play great defense and when their offense clicks, it’s high octane. They’re not great shooters so they’re a bit awkward in the Houston Rocket mold. Their style of play is very dissimilar from the Cavaliers – who rely on superstar play, slow pace, and outstanding outside shooting (Cavs are 4th in TS% – without Kyrie Irving – while the Celtics are 20th)
As for tonight’s contest, I fully expect the Bean Town crowd to boo Kevin Love because…Boston. And Jae Crowder apparently has an axe to grind with J.R. Smith. Count me in as one that would love to see the rise of a new Eastern Conference villain for LeBron to vanquish. I miss the days of Arenas, Sheed, and the thug offices of Stevenson and Stephenson. With Joakhim Noah and Derrick Rose looking nursing home bound, and the remaining Heatles staying friendly with LeBron, I hereby pass the torch on to Crowder and Co. If last season’s playoff was any indication, the Celtics are going to play as rotten as the referees will allow. And don’t be fooled by Brad Stevens’ choir boy face – he’s got his fingerprints all over this team’s style of play. He also works for Danny Ainge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN1gfT2IUuo#t=1m
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV1KIkaElvg
It’s getting hard to watch our ineffective guard play.
Kyrie should be back in a game or two…
Love is 3 for 3 in the paint, 1 for 6 outside the paint.
I hope they come out for the third quarter pissed off, because they should be.
We look like garbage! Cavs are better than this.
Thomas hit that, but he’s the hero ball king. Thinks he’s Jordan.
Huh? What the hell? Bradley pushes Love out of bounds and its C’s ball.
The celtics announcers are literal idiots. Saying the weirdest things, and trying not to feel stupid evry time the replay shows them to be wrong
So glad I’m not listening to them. Worst homers in the league, and that’s saying something. Boston NEVER fouls.
Not only do they not foul, but they never complain when it’s called. And they play good clean basketball and everyone else is a dirty whiner. Actual quote about Lebron…dirty and a crybaby. Hysterical.
Boston is by far the worst. New York teams and fans have the rep, but Boston fans are the absolute bottom of the barrel. I hope for the worst for all of their crappy teams.
I’m listening to them just for the chuckles. Reminds me of a couple of drunks yelling at people from a park bench.
I think you are literally right about the ‘drunks’ part…
They stopped giving a crap when Larry Bird retired.
Dear Mr. Crowder,
I’m sorry when J.R. slapped your cheek you sprained your ankle. Try not to be such a douchebag.
Love,
Everyone.
Crowder has had too much chowder.
Crowder should just be called “Chowdah!”
Now we see why Crowder got popped
DON’T LIKE OUR 5 ASSISTS TO THE CELTS 11—MEANS THE BALL IS ” STICKING ” —NO ENERGY IN THE BALL SO FAR
Man, I really just want us to beat these guys by 100. I know its not that easy, but I want them to be embarrassed. I need medication, I think.
LeBrons telling Crowder to STFU.
He was giving him an apology, I think.
That was a borderline T on Crowder….I would have called it just to control the game. So many douches on this Celtics team.
That’s a crazy stat… Cavs have 8 turnovers, but the Celtics have scored zero points off of them…
Offensive rebounds, on the other hand, have hurt us.
LeBron gets hacked no call. Thomas flops it’s a foul.
I HATE BOSTON. A LOT.
JUST GOT HOME FROM HOPKINS AIRPOT( CLEVELAND ) READ THRU ALL THE BLOGS –GREAT JOB FROM ALL OF YOU MAKING ME FEEL LIKE I WAS PART / WATCHED THE WHOLE GAME —-GOING TO TAKE A SHORT PAUSE ( GOT GET A CHRISTMAS ALE) AND TUNE IN…….BE RIGHT BACK GUYS !!
Hey guys why not speed up the tempo..
It would help to get them back into rhythm.
First one to 80 wins.
The last point scored by someone not Lebron James was six minutes ago.
MUD! Cavs playing like mud. Their pace is slow as molasses.
Celtics are also doing a good job of hustling and contesting on D though to be fair…
I mean, even the Warriors looked sluggish against them…
Not pleasing to the eye to watch.
Eastern Conference basketball for ya…
It’s much better.
Love seems to be shooting about 10% when he pump-fakes a 3 and steps in for a 2.
That is not my favorite move.
What’s up Love? Get back in the post if it isn’t dropping for you.
Well probably a little gun shy here. Bad memories
He still has 11 points to lead the team tho…
I hate the Celtics!
Was that in response to anything or did you just need to say. Not that I object, mind you, just curious.
I think it has to do with us being behind.
It seems the Celtics have decided they need to bomb from 3 to beat us. They’ve already taken 12.
That and play David Lee a lot…
This might be a game where Blatt needs to sit Mo the entire second half.
My lord… I’ve got to turn the sound off… I just can’t listen to Heinsohn anymore…
Mo also seems to be forcing passes tonight too…
Glad AV finally stopped Lee on one drive…
Mo looks like crap again.
Suddenly its a brick party out there.
This might be a bit controversial, but boy Mo has been more of a gunner than JR lately. Actually, I don’t even think it is close. JR occasionally makes a decent drive and dish, mo only seems to look for his shot, does not run the offense at all. And yes i know the kracken, but yeah that is only like one play every three games and only when lebron is in. Pass the ball mo.
I don’t think its controversial. In his defense, I’m not sure Mo knows where he fits in. He’s not the scorer he used to be and teams in general are better at defending wings. All he has is his midrange game, and teams are smart enough to let him have it. So he’s doing what he always did, which is if he’s open, he shoots. It just doesn’t really work with this team because he’s rarely the best shooter on the floor.
You are probably right, just cannot figure what happened to his three pt shot. Was shooting it really well earlier this year no? Also guess i forgot mo was never really a point guard.
What is controversial is that there are too many B’s to keep track of…
I’m the original. All you impostors need a different initial.
The refs feel bad for that midget Thomas.
Mo has got to hit those open threes on the wing…
In and outer tho. Not like he shot an airball.
If he can’t hit that shot better than Jared Cunningham, I don’t see what he’s doing on the floor.
On the plus side, he doesn’t seem to be getting abused tonight……
1-5 though so far… if he’s gonna be out there, he needs to be scoring…
Can I petition for RJ’s nickname to officially be O’MATY? For Old Man At The Y
You’re right, its forced. Nevermind.
I like it…
Great play by RJ…
Mo Williams is good for free throws, I’ll give him that.
Heinsohn sounds pretty drunk already…
Can you blame him? Its been dark there since 3:00 pm.
Avery Bradley already jacked up 4 threes.
That’s his game this year. Shoots 6 per game @ 43%.
yep. Wrote about it in the Preview above.
Anybody else feel like Mo is like the ghost of Christmas Future for Isaiah Thomas?
All I know is the sooner Mo is relegated to third string the better. It was a nice story and all, but there is just no excuse for his defense anymore.
I think Varejao is the Ghost of Christmas Future for TT.
Hmm. This is a fun game. Sasha Kaun ghost of Christmas Future for Kelly Olynk?
Lee will tear us apart if weNre not careful. Dude knows how to manufacture layups
For some reason once he left New York he’s been consistently underrated.
Yea but his defense has been consistently nonexistent
He rarely gets much playing time… except against the Cavs…
Andy is a good guy to have for this game… he’s gonna piss them off…
Why must referees only throw the ball underhanded or with two hands?
How did that become part of the culture?
To disguise the fact that most of them are old enough to have creaky shoulders?
Because they’re blind?
Yelling “GETTIN’ GOOD LOOKS!!!” every few minutes is not commentary. Reminds me of a servicemen I saw in a casino once, every 5 minutes would yell “WE’RE GAMBLIN’!!” to prove to everyone he wasn’t asleep.
Olynk in. Put in Perk!
Or at least Sasha Kaun for some Russian frontier justice…
Shump gives us so much more athleticism. I had forgotten how athletic he is, having to watch Mo, Delly and the rest.
Kev doin revenge without talkin
That was a terrific inside move from KLove…
K Love and LeBron doing work
KLove looks good with 11.
Yes. He is focused tonight. I think the whole team is. LBJ looking for his own shot early as well. He may go off tonight.
Nice fake close-out and release by LeBron.
Just turned it on… had to finish a meeting…
WTH EG, priorities! This ain’t preseason!
I know… right?
Come on EG, we need you!
Giving up way too many O Boards. Position and box out, fellas.
Boston is crashing the O-boards. Gotta make em pay on misses with fast breaks.
Delly is really bothered by Bradley as he is carrying the ball upcourt. One TO already and close to another.
Love Love in the post though!
And Bradley is looking to shoot 3s like he’s Curry. Dude just wants to fire away.
No complaints here. I hope he keeps firing away all night.
at 43% he should be firing away.
Celtics fan sitting behind press tables as Love works in the post: “Rip his arm out of socket! Who cares? Rip it out!” – Jason Lloyd
Keep it classy, Boston. In Cleveland, we only cheer when OUR players are injured.
Spitting fire tonight, JoeyB.
LOL. I am. Memories of last year got me all pumped up. I hate these guys.
LeBron just leveled Crowder. I suppose he needs another apology.
I wish J.R. had responded, when asked about an apology, “He just trying to get the pipe!”
Let’s go Cavs!
Nasty move by K Love there!
More of that please!
Hate the Celtics announcers. Totally uninformed.
Mozgov likely won’t get a ton of minutes tonight.
Sullinger appears to be the one pushing the chippy crap so far.
Not a great start :(
Oh no. NBA TV is carrying the Boston feed. So Heinsohn.
Really insightful so far, huh? From the school of Stating The Obvious.
Man… I can’t stand Heinsohn…
I completely agree…painful to listen to him.
TBH, its gonna be a tough one to win tonight. Can’t believe the Cavs are favored. Since the all star break last year, the Celtics and Cavs have been the 2 best teams in the East. Lack of a star player hurts Boston more in the playoffs, but in the reg. season they are a tough out.
No JR… Don’t apologize.
“Because Boston”. Best laugh this week, Tom. Thank you. I try not avoid saying nasty things, but the pre-game feed panning across the Boston crowd had me wondering if the Celtics have the ugliest fans in the game. Oops, sorry that just slipped out.
If you listened to Mike Tirico during the shoulder separation, he actually made it sound like it was Love’s fault.
“Love grabbed Olynyk’s arm. Olynyk tried to pull away.” – Mike Tirico
I just looked back at the posts from that game, and boy am I pissed all over again!
Watch out for some Crowder cheap shots.
I would not be opposed to a full scale brawl.
Engage nuclear Delly.
Tom, where did you find the first video? It’s from a greek channel and the commentary is in Greek of course! Treasure! You might cause me to miss the game!!
I just did a search for Cavs v Celtics 1992.
I downloaded it since I expect it to be removed at some point.
Thanks anyways. Gotta have that!
Fully expect this one to get chippy and to see at least one early tech
This may be the first revenge game in NBA history where the team on the winning end of a playoff sweep is out for revenge.
That look on Tony Brothers face is priceless in that clip. He’s looking at Lebron like he just woke up from a nap. Utterly clueless. I can’t believe he still has a job after that fiasco.
I will be satisfied with nothing less than humiliation of the Celtics. I hope Kelly Olynk accidentally punches Crowder in the balls.
Unrelated, What is SRS?
It’s a way to rank teams based on Point Differential and Strength of Schedule (vs simple wins and losses – BORING)